To celebrate the recent 50th anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and to go along with the release of the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Johnny Depp made a live and in-person appearance as Jack Sparrow at Disneyland Park recently, much to the shock of guests enjoying the ride.

Disney has released a video of Depp’s surprise appearance, and if you haven’t already seen it you can check it out below.

Do you remember watching the Disney Cruise Line commercials that aired in 1998, encouraging you to “discover uncharted magic” and set sail on the Disney Magic? Sixteen years have passed, and with four ships in its fleet, Disney Cruise Line is as bustling as ever with many dozens of voyages around the world each year.

I recently returned from a most excellent, elegant, and exciting voyage on the Disney Fantasy, the newest of the vessels. I continue to praise everything about what the ship has to offer, both tangibly and emotionally, but to describe an experience does not mean as much as actually living it.

I hope to encourage you to realize the possibilities of Disney Cruise Line, albeit through experiencing it vicariously, as I share memories of my time aboard the Disney Fantasy. My story is just one of many that individuals experienced on the same ship during the same week. Each varies in level of relaxation and fun, but almost all contain the same core elements that define Disney Cruise Line: magic, in every sense of the word.

Betcha didn’t see this one coming.

The Wrap is reporting that superstar Johnny Depp is close to signing a deal that would see him returning to the role of Jack Sparrow for the currently untitled Pirates of the Caribbean 5.

The news comes just as the fourth film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, passed $1 billion worldwide in box office revenue, making it even less shocking than it was before the milestone was passes. The $250 million blockbuster only brought in $234 million domestically, but soared to just under $775 million overseas.

The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook
A Swashbuckler’s Guide from Pirates of the Caribbean
Hardcover
By Jason Heller
Quirk Books
Release date: May 3, 2011

Yo ho! yo ho! A pirate’s life for me…

If a pirate’s life is actually for you, then you might want to pick up The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook: A Swashbuckler’s Guide from Pirates of the Caribbean before you set out on the high seas in search of treasure and adventure.

In this new handbook from Quirk Books — publishers of other great guides such those for Batman, Superman, Indiana Jones, Worst-Case Scenarios, and more — author Jason Heller breaks down the pirate’s life into six categories pertaining to etiquette; maritime skills, myths and legends; booty acquisition; and most importantly, how to cheat death. Oh, and of course, how to talk like a pirate!

Amazon is currently offering a $10 credit towards the future purchase of a video game after you pre-order the video game LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for Nintendo Wii.

Also, with the pre-order, you’ll receive a credit toward the redemption of a LEGO Pirates of The Caribbean Jack Sparrow mini-figurine.

The Wii edition costs $49.99 and will be released on May 10, 2011.

The game will also be released on Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS, PC, Nintendo 3DS, Sony PSP, though the Wii is the only version that’s eligible for the promotion.

If you purchase the video game for Xbox 360 along with the LEGO Pirates of The Caribbean: The Video Game: Prima Official Game Guide you’ll receive 5% off your order.